Tthe 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be “the most compact” World Cup in history, allowing fans to watch multiple live matches per day, shows new data released by the organizers yesterday.
The total square mileage of the stadiums and training pitches required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be contained within a mere 235sqm, equal to less than half the size of Greater London which covers over 670sqm.
Putting in the context of other major cities in the UK, the total Tournament Footprint is a little over twice the size of Birmingham and four times the size of Manchester and Liverpool4.
The longest distance between any two 2022 FIFA World Cup venues, Al Bayt – Al Khor City in the North of Qatar and Al Wakrah in the South, is a mere 35 miles, only seven miles further than the distance between Liverpool FC’s Anfield and Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
The shortest distance between any two venues, Khalifa International and Qatar Foundation, is a mere 3.5 miles, one mile shorter than the distance between Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (Supreme Committee) yesterday released the new data using a new bespoke satellite mapping tool that calculates the distances and travel times between the eight currently under construction stadiums that are set for completion by 2020.
The release of the new data coincides with the six years until kick off anniversary, with the first game set to be played at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on 21 November 2022. It also marks the near halfway mark on the Qatar 2022 World Cup project since the country won the hosting rights on 2 December 2010.
The compact nature of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will mean that fans can realistically watch an unprecedented two-to-three live games per day during the group stages, depending on the final FIFA match schedule.
It also means fans will spend a similar amount of time travelling to and from games as they would do if they were making their way across any major city centre, with travel times ranging between 60 minutes for the longest commute between venues and a mere five minutes for the shortest. Every stadium used during the tournament will be connected by Qatar’s new state-of-the-art metro, scheduled for launch in 2019, as well as a range of other public transport options such as buses and water taxis.
Nasser Al Khater, Assistant Secretary General, Tournament Affairs, Supreme Committee said: “We have always maintained that Qatar’s size will make it one of the most unique World Cups ever that will benefit both fans and players. For fans, this will be the ultimate tournament for live game experiences".
Qatar to be completely unique compared to any other FIFA World Cup
"The compact nature means short travel times from the airport and accommodation to fan parks, tourist attractions and most importantly, match venues, enabling fans to watch more than one live game a day. Qatar is also only an eight hour flight for two thirds of the world’s population. This is completely unique compared to any other FIFA World Cup,” Nasser Al Khater, Assistant Secretary General, Tournament Affairs, Supreme Committee, said.
“For the teams competing, it will also be a huge advantage as they will be based at one location for the entire tournament, play in a consistent climate throughout and experience minimal travel between matches. If you compare this to the USA’s group stage travel during Brazil 2014, which saw them notch up nearly 9,000 air miles just for their first three games, you can see how this will clearly benefits the players. With one training base, one hotel and no need for exhausting flights between stadiums for the entirety of the tournament, teams will have the maximum time possible for preparation, recovery and rest,” he added.
For those tuning in around the world for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar’s geographical position means that the tournament will provide prime time viewing for more than three billion people around the world.
Qatar is investing heavily in infrastructure as part of the country’s preparations for the 2022 tournament and its 2030 National Vision. New hotels will offer travelling fans accommodation options to suit every budget and a new metro, light-rail and expanded and improved road network will mean minimal congestion on the roads throughout the tournament. Hamad International Airport is also being further expanded, increasing its hourly capacity beyond the current 8,700 to ensure the country can accommodate the thousands of players, fans and operational staff arriving in 2022.
